4d.Progress report.
This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and the United States Department of Interior (USDI), Bureau of Land Management, Billings, MT, in cooperation with the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency, Rome, Italy. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 4012-22000-023-00D, "Discovery and Initial Development of Classical Biological Control Agents for Invasive Eurasian Weeds Affecting Agricultural and Natural Areas." Research progress on several target weeds as follows. Collected yellow starthistle (YST) specimens from populations in central and western Turkey, Greece, Italy and France for evaluation of eastern Turkish populations of the weevil Ceratapion basicorne originally collected in 2005. The purpose of this study was to define the population genetics of the insect in relation to its host specificity in order to identify other YST-specific populations adapted to different climatic conditions. The results showed a clear-cut homogeneity of different genotypes, suggesting the existence of a continuous gene flow among the populations and/or of a strict association with the host within all populations examined. Moreover, host-range choice and no-choice tests carried out with the Italian population showed results very similar to that obtained with the east Turkey insects. Altogether, the outcome confirms and strengthens the evidence that C. basicorne is suitable as a safe biocontrol agent for YST, in different climatic conditions. Host specificity assessment of the lace bug, Tingis grisea, initiated in 2003, was completed, adding choice and no-choice oviposition trials on 16 potential host plant species. Preliminary analyses of the results suggest that the host range of this insect is probably too wide, even though limited to the genus Centaurea to be suitable for introduction in the US for YST biocontrol. Field collections and consequent laboratory rearing of the tephritid flies Chaetorellia spp. was completed to provide pre-imaginal stages for shipment to the U.S. Laboratory and field tests were conducted using a new artificial diet developed by USDA-ARS, Albany, CA, for the development of pre-imaginal stages of root and stem boring insects.

Russian thistle: The candidate biocontrol agent, Anthypurinus biimpressus, was collected in Tunisia. No-choice introductory trials were initiated on several Salsola spp. and other commercial Chenopodiaceae. The results showed that the insects were able to oviposit and larvae to grow only on S. kali, S. tragus and S. soda. During the trials we also used the insect diet mentioned above with positive results. Carried out extensive field surveys in Kazakhstan, selecting several flea beetles and root/stem boring weevil species. The insects are currently being identified.

Perennial pepperweed: Conducted field surveys in Turkey and Kazakhstan to define the guild of insects associated with PPW and to select new potential biocontrol candidates. Following last year's work, preliminary field surveys, several weevils, one chloropid fly, and other unidentified flea beetles were selected. Several plant pathogens were also found. Biological observations on the chloropid flies were initiated in the laboratory.

Saltcedar: Field surveys were conducted in Turkey, Kazakhstan and Italy to identify new natural enemies of T. parviflora and T. canariensis.